“Transformers: Age of Extinction” got a major post-World Cup boost at the foreign box office this weekend, taking in a massive $81.2 million from 59 overseas markets.
The two highest-grossing territories for the action epic starring Mark Wahlberg were Brazil and Germany, the host nation and champion of the recently completed soccer extravaganza.
“Age of Extinction” opened at No. 1 in Brazil with an outstanding $16.5 million. With previews included, it has already topped the lifetime totals of the three previous “Transformers” movies in that country. And it scored the biggest opening of the year so far in Germany with $11.9 million.
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Michael Bay‘s morphing robots epic has now taken in $659 million from overseas. After adding $10 million domestically this weekend, its U.S. haul is up to $227 million, giving it an $886 million worldwide total after four weeks. That makes it a very solid bet to become the year’s first movie to gross $1 billion globally.
Paramount took on several Chinese partners to produce “Age of Extinction,” which has brought in more than $285 million from China alone.
Fox’s “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” was a strong second, taking in more than $61 million from 59 foreign markets this weekend.
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The biggest territories for “Apes” were the U.K. ($14.6 million), Russia ($9.8 million) and Spain ($4.6 million).
And for the first time in more than four months, a Disney movie isn’t No. 1 at the Japanese box office.
“Maleficent” added another $8 million from 45 foreign markets, but finished behind local product “Pokeman” in Japan and fell out of the top spot it had held there for two weeks. That followed a 16-week run at No. 1 in that country for Disney’s animated hit “Frozen.”
The Angelina Jolie fantasy tale is up to $468 million in international grosses, and is about to cross $700 million worldwide.